VANGUARD FUNDS
MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN
INTRODUCTION
This Multiple Class Plan (the “Plan”) describes seven separate classes of shares that may be offered by investment company members of The Vanguard Group of Mutual Funds (collectively the “Funds,” individually a “Fund”). The Plan has been adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) to allow each Fund to offer multiple classes of shares in a manner permitted by Rule 18f-3, subject to the requirements imposed by the Rule. Each Fund may offer any one or more of the specified classes.
The Plan has been approved by the Board of Directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc. (“VGI”). In addition, the Plan has been adopted by a majority of the Board of Trustees of each Fund (“Fund Board”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of each Fund. The classes of shares offered by each Fund are designated in Schedule A hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.
SHARE CLASSES
A Fund may offer any one or more of the following share classes:
Investor Shares
Admiral Shares
Institutional Shares Institutional
Plus Shares
Institutional Select Shares ETF
Shares
Transition Shares
DISTRIBUTION, AVAILABILITY AND ELIGIBILITY
Distribution arrangements for all classes are described below. Distribution arrangements vary by VGI business line depending on the eligibility of the client segments to whom they market. Each Fund retains sole discretion in determining share class availability, and VGI retains discretion in determining whether Fund shares shall be offered either directly or through certain financial intermediaries, or on certain financial intermediary platforms. Eligibility requirements for purchasing shares of each class will differ, as follows:
Investor Shares
Investor Shares of actively-managed Funds generally will be available to investors who are not permitted to purchase other classes of shares, subject to the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount for Investor Shares of actively-managed Funds will normally be lower than the amount required for any other class of shares of such Funds. Investor Shares of actively-managed Funds are typically distributed by all VGI business lines. Investor Shares of index Funds generally will be available to Funds that operate as a Fund-of- Funds and certain retirement plan clients receiving recordkeeping services from VGI.
1
Admiral Shares
Admiral Shares generally will be available to retail, institutional, and other investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. These eligibility requirements may include, but are not limited to, the following factors: (i) the total amount invested in the Fund; or (ii) any other factors deemed appropriate by a Fund’s Board. Admiral Shares are typically distributed by all VGI business lines.
C. Institutional Shares
Institutional Shares generally will be available to institutional and other investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount per account for Institutional Shares will be substantially higher than the amounts required for Investor Shares or Admiral Shares. Institutional Shares are typically distributed by Vanguard’s financial advisory services and institutional business lines.
D. Institutional Plus Shares
Institutional Plus Shares generally will be available to institutional and other investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount for Institutional Plus Shares will be substantially higher than the amount required for Institutional Shares. Institutional Plus Shares are typically distributed by VGI’s financial advisory services and institutional business lines.
E. Institutional Select Shares
Institutional Select Shares generally will be available to institutional investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount for Institutional Select Shares will be the highest among all Fund share classes. Institutional Select Shares are typically distributed by VGI’s institutional business line.
F. ETF Shares
A Fund will sell ETF Shares to investors that are (or who purchase through) Authorized Participants and who generally pay for their ETF shares by depositing a prescribed basket consisting predominantly of securities with the Fund. An Authorized Participant is an institution, usually a broker-dealer, that is a participant in the Depository Trust Company (DTC) and that has executed a Participant Agreement with the Fund’s distributor. Additional eligibility requirements may be specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. Investors who are not Authorized Participants may buy and sell ETF shares through various exchanges and market centers. ETF Shares are typically distributed by all VGI business lines.
G. Transition Shares
Transition Shares generally will be available solely to Funds that operate as Funds-of-Funds and meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. Transition Shares are only internally distributed.
2
SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
Shareholders in all share classes will receive a range of shareholder services provided by VGI. These services may include transaction processing and shareholder recordkeeping, as well as the mailing of updated prospectuses, shareholder reports, tax statements, confirmation statements, quarterly portfolio summaries, and other items. Each share class will bear its proportionate share of VGI’s cost of providing such services in accordance with Section VI of the Plan.
CONVERSION FEATURES
Self-Directed Conversions
Conversion into Investor Shares, Admiral Shares, Institutional Shares, Institutional Plus Shares, and Institutional Select Shares.
Shareholders may conduct self-directed conversions from one share class into another share class of the same Fund for which they are eligible. Self-directed conversions may be initiated by the shareholder; however, depending upon the particular share class and the complexity of the shareholder’s accounts, such conversions may require the assistance of a VGI representative. Shareholders may convert from one share class into another share class provided that following the conversion the shareholder meets the then applicable eligibility requirements for the share class into which they are converting. Any such conversion will occur at the respective net asset values of the share classes next calculated after VGI’s receipt of the shareholder’s request in good order.
Conversion into ETF Shares. Except as otherwise provided, a shareholder may convert Investor Shares, Admiral Shares, or Institutional Shares into ETF Shares of the same Fund (if available), provided that: (i) the share class out of which the shareholder is converting and the ETF Shares declare and distribute dividends on the same schedule; (ii) the shares to be converted are not held through an employee benefit plan; and (iii) following the conversion, the shareholder will hold ETF Shares through a brokerage account. Any such conversion will occur at the respective net asset values of the share classes next calculated after VGI’s receipt of the shareholder’s request in good order. VGI or the Fund may charge an administrative fee to process conversion transactions.
B. Automatic Conversions
Automatic conversion into Admiral Shares. VGI may automatically convert Investor Shares into Admiral Shares of the same Fund (if available), provided that following the conversion the shareholder meets the eligibility requirements for Admiral Shares. Any such conversion will occur at the respective net asset values of the share classes next calculated after VGI’s conversion without the imposition of any charge. Such automatic conversions may occur on a periodic, or one-time basis. Automatic conversions may not apply to certain financial types of accounts (e.g., accounts held through certain intermediaries, or other accounts as may be excluded by VGI management).
3
Automatic conversion into Institutional Shares, Institutional Plus Shares, or Institutional Select Shares. VGI may conduct automatic conversions of any share class into either Institutional Shares, Institutional Plus Shares, or Institutional Select Shares in accordance with then-current eligibility requirements.
C. Involuntary Conversions and Cash Outs
Cash Outs. If a shareholder in any class of shares no longer meets the eligibility requirements for such shares, the Fund may, if permitted under applicable law, cash out the shareholder’s remaining account balance. Any such cash out will be preceded by written notice to the shareholder and will be subject to the Fund’s normal redemption fees, if any.
Conversion of Admiral Shares, Institutional Shares, Institutional Plus Shares, and Institutional Select Shares. If a shareholder no longer meets the eligibility requirements for the share class currently held, the Fund may convert the shareholder’s holdings into the share class for which such shareholder is eligible. Any such conversion will be preceded by written notice to the shareholder and will occur at the respective net asset values of the share classes without the imposition of any sales load, fee, or other charge.
Conversions of Transition Shares. When a Fund that issues Transition Shares has completed the relevant portfolio transition, the Fund will convert the Transition Shares to another share class of the same Fund as appropriate, based on the eligibility requirements of such class as specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.
VI. EXPENSE ALLOCATION AMONG CLASSES
A. Background
VGI is a jointly-owned subsidiary of the Funds. VGI provides the Funds virtually all of their corporate management, administrative, and distribution services. VGI also may provide investment advisory services to the Funds. All of these services are provided at VGI’s total cost of operations pursuant to the Fifth Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement between VGI and the Funds (the “Agreement”) . VGI was established and operates pursuant to the Agreement, and pursuant to certain exemptive orders granted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“Exemptive Orders”). VGI’s direct and indirect expenses of providing corporate management, administrative, and distribution services to the Funds are allocated among such Funds in accordance with methods specified in the Agreement or such other methods as may be approved by the Board of Directors of VGI (“VGI Board”) as permitted under the Agreement and by the Fund Board.1
B. Class Specific Expenses
1In accordance with the methods set out in the Agreement and VGI Board and Fund Board approved methods, the expenses that would otherwise have been allocated to each Fund that operates as a Fund-of-Funds are reallocated to the approved share class of the underlying Funds in the Fund-of-Funds’ portfolio on a pro rata basis based on the Fund-of-Fund’s relative net assets invested in the underlying Fund’s share class.
4
Expenses for Account-Based Services. Expenses associated with
VGI’s provision of account-based services to the Funds will be allocated among the share classes of each Fund on the basis of the amount incurred by each such class as follows:
Account maintenance expenses. Expenses associated with the maintenance of investor accounts will be proportionately allocated among each Fund’s share classes based upon a monthly determination of the costs to service each class of shares. Factors considered in this determination are (i) the percentage of total shareholder accounts represented by each class and (ii) the relative percentage of total net assets of each class.
Expenses of special servicing arrangements. Expenses relating to any special servicing arrangements for a specific class will be proportionally allocated among each eligible Fund’s share classes primarily based on their percentage of total shareholder accounts receiving the special servicing arrangements.
Literature production and mailing expenses. Expenses associated with shareholder reports, proxy materials, and other literature will be allocated among each Fund’s share classes based upon the number of such items produced and mailed for each class.
Other Class Specific Expenses. Expenses for the primary benefit of a particular share class will be allocated to that share class. Such expenses would include any legal fees attributable to a particular class.
Fund-Wide Expenses
Marketing and Distribution Expenses. Each share class will bear marketing and distribution expenses proportionate to the marketing and distribution expenses of the business lines that distribute that share class. Retail and institutional businesses expenses will be allocated based on the percentage of client accounts in each share class serviced by the respective business. Financial advisory service expenses will be apportioned based on the percentage of assets in each share class.
Expenses associated with each share class will be allocated only among the Funds that have such share class according to the “Vanguard Modified Formula,” with each share class or each Fund treated as if it were a separate Fund. The Vanguard Modified Formula is set forth in the Agreement and in certain of the SEC Exemptive Orders. This allocation has been deemed an appropriate allocation methodology by each Fund Board under paragraph (c)(1)(v) of Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act.
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Asset Management Expenses. Expenses associated with management of a Fund’s assets (including all advisory, tax preparation, and custody fees) will be allocated among the Fund’s share classes on the basis of their relative net assets.
Other Fund Expenses. Any other Fund expenses not described above will be allocated among the share classes on the basis of their relative net assets.
VII. ALLOCATION OF INCOME, GAINS, AND LOSSES
Income, gains, and losses will be allocated among each Fund’s share classes on the basis of their relative net assets. As a result of differences in allocated expenses, it is expected that the net income of, and dividends payable to, each class of shares will vary. Dividends and distributions paid to each class of shares will be calculated in the same manner, on the same day and at the same time (except as permitted by applicable exemptive relief).
VIII. VOTING AND OTHER RIGHTS
Each share class will have: (i) exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to its service or distribution arrangements; and (ii) separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of the other class; and
(iii)in all other respects the same rights, obligations, and privileges as each other, except as described in the Plan.
IX. AMENDMENTS
All material amendments to the Plan must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of each Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund. In addition, any material amendment to the Plan must be approved by the Board of Directors of VGI.
Original Board Approval: July 21, 2000
Last Approved by Board: November 2023
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SCHEDULE A to
VANGUARD FUNDS MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN
Note: Transition Shares, when offered by a Fund, are available for a limited period of time and are then converted into another share class. For this reason, Transition Shares are not shown on Schedule A.
Vanguard Fund |
Share Classes Authorized |
|
|
Vanguard Admiral Funds |
|
|
|
• |
Treasury Money Market Fund |
Investor |
|
• S&P 500 Value Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
||
• S&P 500 Growth Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
||
• S&P Mid-Cap 400 Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
||
• S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
||
• S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
||
• S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
||
• S&P Small-Cap 600 Value Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
||
• S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth Index Fund |
ETF |
||
Vanguard Bond Index Funds |
|
|
|
• Short-Term Bond Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, |
||
• |
|
Institutional Plus, ETF |
|
Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, Institutional |
||
|
|
Plus, ETF |
|
• Long-Term Bond Index Fund |
Admiral, Institutional, Institutional Plus, |
||
|
|
ETF |
|
• Total Bond Market Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, Institutional |
||
• Total Bond Market II Index Fund |
Plus, Institutional Select, ETF |
||
Investor, Institutional |
|||
• |
Inflation-Protected Securities Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional |
|
• |
Ultra-Short Bond ETF |
ETF |
|
Vanguard California Tax-Free Funds |
|
|
|
• Municipal Money Market Fund |
Investor |
||
• |
Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
|
• |
Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
|
• California Tax-Exempt Bond ETF |
ETF |
||
Vanguard Charlotte Funds |
|
|
|
• Total International Bond Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF |
||
• |
Global Credit Bond Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
|
• Total International Bond II Index Fund |
Investor, Institutional |
1
Vanguard Fund |
Share Classes Authorized |
|
|
Vanguard Chester Funds |
|
|
• |
PRIMECAP Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• Target Retirement Income Fund |
Investor |
|
• Target Retirement 2020 Fund |
Investor |
|
• Target Retirement 2025 Fund |
Investor |
|
• Target Retirement 2030 Fund |
Investor |
|
• Target Retirement 2035 Fund |
Investor |
|
• Target Retirement 2040 Fund |
Investor |
|
• Target Retirement 2045 Fund |
Investor |
|
• Target Retirement 2050 Fund |
Investor |
|
• Target Retirement 2055 Fund |
Investor |
|
• Target Retirement 2060 Fund |
Investor |
|
• Target Retirement 2065 Fund |
Investor |
|
• Target Retirement 2070 Fund |
Investor |
|
Vanguard Explorer Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
|
Vanguard Fenway Funds |
|
|
• |
Equity Income Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
PRIMECAP Core Fund |
Investor |
Vanguard Fixed Income Securities Funds |
|
|
• |
Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• Real Estate II Index Fund |
Institutional Plus |
|
• |
Short-Term Treasury Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Short-Term Federal Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional |
• |
Intermediate-Term Treasury Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Intermediate-Term Investment-Grade Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
GNMA Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Long-Term Treasury Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
High-Yield Corporate Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
Vanguard Horizon Funds |
|
|
• |
Capital Opportunity Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Global Equity Fund |
Investor |
• |
Strategic Equity Fund |
Investor |
• |
Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund |
Investor |
• International Core Stock Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
2
Vanguard Fund |
Share Classes Authorized |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vanguard Index Funds |
|
|
|
• |
500 Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional Select, ETF |
|
• Extended Market Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, |
||
• |
|
Institutional Plus, Institutional Select, ETF |
|
Growth Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF |
||
• |
Large-Cap Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF |
|
• Mid-Cap Growth Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, ETF |
||
• |
Mid-Cap Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, |
|
• Mid-Cap Value Index Fund |
Institutional Plus, ETF |
||
Investor, Admiral, ETF |
|||
• Small-Cap Growth Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF |
||
• |
Small-Cap Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, |
|
• Small-Cap Value Index Fund |
Institutional Plus, ETF |
||
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF |
|||
• Total Stock Market Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, Institutional |
||
• |
|
Plus, Institutional Select, ETF |
|
Value Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF |
||
Vanguard Institutional Index Funds |
|
|
|
• |
Institutional Index Fund |
Institutional, Institutional Plus |
|
• Institutional Total Stock Market Index Fund |
Institutional, Institutional Plus |
||
Vanguard International Equity Index Funds |
|
|
|
• Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, |
||
|
|
Institutional Plus |
|
|
FTSE Emerging Markets ETF |
ETF |
|
• European Stock Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, |
||
|
|
Institutional Plus |
|
|
FTSE Europe ETF |
ETF |
|
• FTSE All-World ex US Index Fund |
Admiral, Institutional, Institutional |
||
|
|
Plus, ETF |
|
• Pacific Stock Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional |
||
|
FTSE Pacific ETF |
ETF |
|
• Total World Stock Index Fund |
Admiral, Institutional, ETF |
||
• FTSE All World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund |
Admiral, Institutional, ETF |
||
• Global ex-U.S. Real Estate Index Fund |
Admiral, Institutional, ETF |
3
Vanguard Fund |
Share Classes Authorized |
|
|
Vanguard Malvern Funds
•Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities
|
Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF |
• Institutional Short-Term Bond Fund |
Institutional Plus |
|
• |
Institutional Intermediate-Term Bond Fund |
Institutional Plus |
• |
Core Bond Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Emerging Markets Bond Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Core-Plus Bond Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• Multi-Sector Income Bond Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
|
• |
Core Bond ETF |
ETF |
• |
Core-Plus Bond ETF |
ETF |
Vanguard Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Funds |
|
|
• |
Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Fund |
Investor |
Vanguard Money Market Funds |
|
|
• Cash Reserves Federal Money Market Fund |
Admiral |
|
• |
Federal Money Market Fund |
Investor |
Vanguard Montgomery Funds |
|
|
• |
Market Neutral Fund |
Investor, Institutional |
Vanguard Municipal Bond Funds |
|
|
• Municipal Money Market Fund |
Investor |
|
• |
Ultra-Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
|
• Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF |
ETF |
|
• Short Duration Tax-Exempt Bond ETF |
ETF |
|
• Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF |
ETF |
|
Vanguard New Jersey Tax-Free Funds |
|
|
• |
Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
Vanguard New York Tax-Free Funds |
|
|
• Municipal Money Market Fund |
Investor |
|
• |
Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
Vanguard Ohio Tax-Free Funds |
|
|
• |
Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund |
Investor |
Vanguard Pennsylvania Tax-Free Funds |
|
|
• |
Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
4
Vanguard Fund |
Share Classes Authorized |
|
|
Vanguard Quantitative Funds |
|
|
• Growth and Income Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
|
Vanguard Scottsdale Funds |
|
|
• Short-Term Treasury Index Fund |
Institutional, Admiral, ETF |
|
• Intermediate-Term Treasury Index Fund |
Institutional, Admiral, ETF |
|
• Long-Term Treasury Index Fund |
Institutional, Admiral, ETF |
|
• Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund |
Institutional, Admiral, ETF |
|
• Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund |
Institutional, Admiral, ETF |
|
• Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund |
Institutional, Admiral, ETF |
|
• Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund |
Institutional, Admiral, ETF |
|
• |
Explorer Value Fund |
Investor |
• Russell 1000 Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
|
• Russell 1000 Value Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
|
• Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
|
• Russell 2000 Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
|
• Russell 2000 Value Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
|
• Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
|
• Russell 3000 Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
|
• Total Corporate Bond ETF |
ETF |
|
• Total World Bond ETF |
ETF |
|
Vanguard Specialized Funds |
|
|
• |
Energy Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• Global Capital Cycles Fund |
Investor |
|
• |
Health Care Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Dividend Growth Fund |
Investor |
• Real Estate Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF |
|
• Dividend Appreciation Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
|
• Global ESG Select Stock Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
|
Vanguard STAR Funds |
|
|
• |
LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund |
Investor |
• |
LifeStrategy Growth Fund |
Investor |
• |
LifeStrategy Income Fund |
Investor |
• |
LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund |
Investor |
• |
STAR Fund |
Investor |
• Total International Stock Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, |
|
|
|
Institutional Plus, Institutional Select, |
|
|
ETF |
Vanguard Tax-Managed Funds |
|
|
• |
Tax-Managed Balanced Fund |
Admiral |
• Tax-Managed Capital Appreciation Fund |
Admiral, Institutional |
|
• Developed Markets Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional, |
|
|
|
Institutional Plus |
|
FTSE Developed Markets ETF |
ETF |
• Tax-Managed Small-Cap Fund |
Admiral, Institutional |
5
Vanguard Fund |
Share Classes Authorized |
|
|
Vanguard Trustees’ Equity Fund |
|
|
• |
International Value Fund |
Investor |
• |
Diversified Equity Fund |
Investor |
• Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund |
Investor |
|
• |
Commodity Strategy Fund |
Admiral |
• Global Environmental Opportunities Stock Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
|
Vanguard Valley Forge Funds |
|
|
• |
Balanced Index Fund |
Investor, Admiral, Institutional |
• Baillie Gifford Global Positive Impact Stock Fund |
Investor |
|
Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds |
|
|
• |
Balanced Portfolio |
Investor |
• |
Conservative Allocation Portfolio |
Investor |
• |
Diversified Value Portfolio |
Investor |
• |
Equity Income Portfolio |
Investor |
• |
Equity Index Portfolio |
Investor |
• |
Growth Portfolio |
Investor |
• |
Global Bond Index Portfolio |
Investor |
• Total Bond Market Index Portfolio |
Investor |
|
• High Yield Bond Portfolio |
Investor |
|
• |
International Portfolio |
Investor |
• |
Mid-Cap Index Portfolio |
Investor |
• |
Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
Investor |
• |
Money Market Portfolio |
Investor |
• Real Estate Index Portfolio |
Investor |
|
• Short-Term Investment Grade Portfolio |
Investor |
|
• Small Company Growth Portfolio |
Investor |
|
• |
Capital Growth Portfolio |
Investor |
• Total International Stock Market Index Portfolio |
Investor |
|
• Total Stock Market Index Portfolio |
Investor |
|
Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
|
Vanguard Wellington Fund |
|
|
• Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF |
ETF |
|
• |
U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF |
ETF |
• U.S. Momentum Factor ETF |
ETF |
|
• |
U.S. Multifactor ETF |
ETF |
• |
U.S. Multifactor Fund |
Admiral |
• |
U.S. Quality Factor ETF |
ETF |
• U.S. Value Factor ETF |
ETF |
|
• |
Wellington Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
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Vanguard Fund |
Share Classes Authorized |
|
|
Vanguard Whitehall Funds |
|
|
• |
Selected Value Fund |
Investor |
• |
Mid-Cap Growth Fund |
Investor |
• |
International Explorer Fund |
Investor |
• High Dividend Yield Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
•Emerging Markets Government
|
Bond Index Fund |
Admiral, Institutional, ETF |
• Global Minimum Volatility Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
|
• International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
|
• International High Dividend Yield Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
|
• Advice Select International Growth Fund |
Admiral |
|
• Advice Select Global Value Fund |
Admiral |
|
• Advice Select Dividend Growth Fund |
Admiral |
|
• International Dividend Growth Fund |
Investor |
|
Vanguard Windsor Funds |
|
|
• |
Windsor Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Windsor II Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
Vanguard World Fund |
|
|
• Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund |
Institutional, Institutional Plus, ETF |
|
• FTSE Social Index Fund |
Admiral, Institutional |
|
• |
Global Wellesley Income Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
Global Wellington Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• |
International Growth Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• Mega Cap Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
|
• Mega Cap Growth Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
|
• Mega Cap Value Index Fund |
Institutional, ETF |
|
• |
U.S. Growth Fund |
Investor, Admiral |
• Consumer Discretionary Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
|
• Consumer Staples Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
|
• |
Energy Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
• |
Financials Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
• Health Care Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
|
• |
Industrials Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
• Information Technology Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
|
• |
Materials Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
• Communication Services Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
|
• |
Utilities Index Fund |
Admiral, ETF |
• ESG U.S. Stock ETF |
ETF |
|
• ESG International Stock ETF |
ETF |
|
• ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF |
ETF |
Original Board Approval: July 21, 2000
Last Updated: November 19, 2024
7
SCHEDULE B
to
VANGUARD FUNDS MULTIPLE CLASS
PLAN
VGI has policies and procedures designed to ensure consistency and compliance with the offering of multiple classes of shares within this Multiple Class Plan’s eligibility requirements.2 These policies are reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis in conjunction with VGI’s Compliance Department.
Investor Shares - Eligibility Requirements
Investor Shares generally require a minimum initial investment of $3,000. The minimum amount required to maintain eligibility for Investor Shares will generally be lower than the minimum initial investment amount and may be further adjusted by an amount determined in VGI’s sole discretion to account for market depreciation. Personal Investor advised clients, clients investing through financial intermediaries, and institutional clients may hold Investor Shares without restriction in Funds that do not offer Admiral Shares. Investor Shares of index Funds generally are available only to Funds that operate as a Fund-of-Funds and certain retirement plan clients receiving recordkeeping services from VGI. A Vanguard Fund may, from time to time, establish higher or lower minimum amounts for Investor Shares. Each Fund and VGI also reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors.
Financial intermediaries that serve as mutual fund supermarkets may only invest in Investor Shares of Funds in which Investor Shares are available and may not invest in other share classes of such Funds.3 Mutual fund supermarket means a program or platform offered by a financial intermediary through which such intermediary’s retail clients may purchase and sell mutual funds offered by a variety of independent fund families on a self-directed basis without advice or recommendation from a financial advisor or broker. This definition may be changed or amended at any time and without prior notice as may be determined in the discretion of VGI management. Nothing in the definition of mutual fund supermarket should be construed to prohibit Vanguard Brokerage Services from offering the Funds’ other share classes to its eligible clients.
Admiral Shares – Eligibility Requirements
Admiral Shares generally are intended for clients who meet the required minimum initial investment of $3,000 for retail clients in index Funds and $50,000 for retail clients in actively-managed Funds. The minimum amount required to maintain eligibility for Admiral Shares will generally be lower than the minimum initial investment amount and may be further adjusted by an amount determined in VGI’s sole discretion to account for market depreciation. Personal Investor advised clients, clients investing through financial intermediaries and institutional clients may hold Admiral Shares of both index and actively-managed Funds without restriction. Funds may, from time to time, establish higher or lower minimum amounts for Admiral Shares, and each Fund and VGI reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors. Admiral Share class eligibility also is subject to the following rule:
•Certain Retirement Plans – Admiral Shares of actively-managed Funds generally are
2The eligibility of a Fund that operates as a Fund-of-Funds to invest in a particular share class of an underlying Fund is determined by VGI and the Fund Board.
3Admiral Shares of the Vanguard Cash Reserves Federal Money Market Fund are available to financial intermediaries that serve as mutual fund supermarkets.
not available for SIMPLE IRAs and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.4
•Mutual Fund Supermarkets – Admiral Shares are not available to mutual fund supermarkets, except where a Fund does not have Investor Shares.
Institutional Shares – Eligibility Requirements
Institutional Shares generally require a minimum initial investment of
$5,000,000. The minimum amount required to maintain eligibility for Institutional Shares will generally be lower than the minimum initial investment amount and may be further adjusted by an amount determined in VGI’s sole discretion to account for market depreciation. Each Fund and VGI also reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors.
Institutional Share class eligibility also is subject to the following special rules:
•Retail clients. Retail clients may hold Institutional Shares by aggregating up to 3 accounts held by the same client (same tax I.D. number) in a single Fund. Single family offices serviced by the Retail Investor Group with $200 million or more in assets in the Funds through the Retail Investor Group may hold Institutional Shares by aggregating assets across all family members who are part of a single family office.
•Financial intermediary clients. Financial intermediaries generally may hold Institutional Shares for the benefit of their underlying clients provided that:
(1)each underlying investor individually meets the investment minimum amount described above;
and
(2)the financial intermediary agrees to monitor ongoing compliance of the underlying investor accounts with the investment minimum amount; or
(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.
Home office model portfolios offered on wealth management platforms administered by financial intermediaries5 may offer Institutional Shares, provided:
(1)the financial intermediary in aggregate at the firm level, excluding custody assets, has total assets of at least $25 billion invested in Vanguard; and
(2)the financial intermediary in aggregate at the firm level, excluding custody assets, meets the investment minimum of Institutional Shares for the Fund.
A home office model portfolio must meet the following criteria:
(1)the allocations and Funds used in the model portfolios on the platform are set and selected by the financial intermediary (i.e., the firm itself);
(2)the allocations and Funds used in the model portfolios on the platform are not subject to change by individual financial advisors; and
(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.
•Institutional clients. An institutional client may hold Institutional Shares if the total amount
4Admiral Share classes of all Funds are available to 403(b) plan participants in Vanguard’s Retail 403(b) business, which is serviced by The Newport Group. Admiral Shares of the Vanguard Cash Reserves Federal Money Market Fund are available
to SIMPLE IRAs and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.
5For purposes of this Schedule B, this is not intend to include robo advisors.
aggregated among all accounts held by such a client (including accounts held through financial intermediaries) and invested in the Fund is at least $5 million (or such higher minimum required by the individual Fund). Such an institutional client must disclose to VGI on behalf of its accounts the following: (1) that the client acts as a common-decision maker6 for each account; and (2) the total balance in each account in the Fund.
•Institutional clients with assets in certain Vanguard collective investment trusts and Funds. Institutional clients with assets in the following collective investment trusts and Funds may aggregate such assets with assets invested in the corresponding Funds listed below in the right column (“Corresponding Funds”) for purposes of meeting the investment minimum for
Institutional Shares of the Corresponding Funds.
Trust/Fund |
Corresponding Fund |
Vanguard Institutional Total Stock |
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index |
Market Index Trust |
Fund |
Vanguard Institutional Total Stock |
Vanguard Institutional Total Stock |
Market Index Trust |
Market Index Fund |
Vanguard Institutional Total Bond |
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index |
Market Index Trust |
Fund |
Vanguard Institutional Total |
Vanguard Total International Stock |
International Stock Market Index Trust |
Market Index Fund |
Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust |
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund |
Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust |
Vanguard 500 Index Fund |
Vanguard Institutional Extended Market |
Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund |
Index Trust |
|
Vanguard Employee Benefit Index |
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund |
Fund |
|
Vanguard Employee Benefit Index |
Vanguard 500 Index Fund |
Fund |
|
Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index |
Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index |
Trust |
Fund |
Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index |
Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index |
Trust |
Fund |
Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index |
Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index |
Trust |
Fund |
Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index |
Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index |
Trust |
Fund |
•Investment by Vanguard Target Retirement Collective Trust. A Vanguard Target Retirement Trust that is a collective trust exempt from regulation under the Investment Company Act and that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in underlying Funds (a “TRT”) may hold
Institutional Shares of an underlying Fund whether or not its investment meets the minimum investment threshold specified above.
•Accumulation Period ⎯ Accounts funded through regular contributions (e.g., employer sponsored participant contribution plans), whose assets are expected to quickly achieve eligibility levels, may
6For purposes of this Schedule B, a common-decision maker includes, but is not limited to, a corporate entity that controls multiple pools of assets invested in a Fund. For example, a corporate entity that acts as a plan sponsor for a retirement plan
may have one or more investment committees or boards of trustees overseeing both the retirement plan account as well as other accounts invested in the Fund. In this case, the corporate entity would be considered a common-decision maker for each account where there is a common membership across each investment committee or governing body making investment
decisions for each account. Common-decision makers do not include financial intermediaries.
qualify for Institutional Shares upon account creation, rather than undergoing the conversion process shortly after account set-up if VGI management determines that the account will become eligible for Institutional Shares within a limited period of time (generally 90 days). The accumulation period eligibility is subject to the discretion of VGI management.
Institutional Plus Shares - Eligibility Requirements
Institutional Plus Shares generally require a minimum initial investment of $100,000,000. The minimum amount required to maintain eligibility for Institutional Plus Shares will generally be lower than the minimum initial investment amount and may be further adjusted by an amount determined in VGI’s sole discretion to account for market depreciation. Each Fund and VGI also reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors. Institutional Plus Share class eligibility also is subject to the following special rules:
•Retail clients. Retail clients may hold Institutional Plus Shares by aggregating up to 3 accounts held by the same client (same tax I.D. number) in a single Fund. For purposes of this rule, VGI management is authorized to permit aggregation of a greater number of accounts in the case of clients whose aggregate assets within the Funds are expected to generate substantial economies in the servicing of their accounts. Single family offices serviced by the Retail Investor Group with $200 million or more in assets in the Funds through the Retail Investor Group may hold Institutional Plus Shares by aggregating assets across all family members who are part of a single family office.
•Institutional clients. An institutional client may hold Institutional Plus Shares if the total amount aggregated among all accounts held by such client (including accounts held through financial intermediaries) and invested in the Fund is at least $100 million (or such higher or lower minimum required by the individual Fund). Such an institutional client must disclose to VGI on behalf of its accounts the following: (1) that the client acts as a common-decision maker for each account; and
(2) the total balance in each account held in the Fund.
•Institutional clients with assets in certain Vanguard collective investment trusts and Funds. Institutional clients with assets in the following collective investment trusts and Funds may aggregate such assets with assets invested in the corresponding Funds listed below in the right column (“Corresponding Funds”) for purposes of meeting the investment minimum for Institutional Plus Shares of the Corresponding Funds.
Trust/Fund |
Corresponding Fund |
||
Vanguard Institutional Total Stock |
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index |
||
Market Index Trust |
Fund |
||
Vanguard Institutional Total Stock |
Vanguard Institutional Total Stock |
||
Market Index Trust |
Market Index Fund |
||
Vanguard Institutional Total Bond |
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index |
||
Market Index Trust |
Fund |
||
Vanguard Institutional Total |
Vanguard Total International Stock |
||
International Stock Market Index Trust |
Market Index Fund |
||
Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust |
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund |
||
Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust |
Vanguard 500 Index Fund |
||
Vanguard Institutional Extended Market |
Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund |
||
Index Trust |
|
|
|
Vanguard Employee Benefit Index |
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund |
||
Fund |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vanguard Employee Benefit Index |
Vanguard 500 Index Fund |
Fund |
|
|
|
Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index |
Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index |
Trust |
Fund |
Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index |
Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index |
Trust |
Fund |
Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index |
Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index |
Trust |
Fund |
Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index |
Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index |
Trust |
Fund |
|
|
•Financial intermediary clients. Financial intermediaries generally may hold Institutional Plus Shares for the benefit of their underlying clients provided that:
(1)each underlying investor individually meets the investment minimum amount described above;
and
(2)the financial intermediary agrees to monitor ongoing compliance of the underlying investor accounts with the investment minimum amount; or
(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.
Home office model portfolios offered on wealth management platforms administered by financial intermediaries may offer Institutional Plus Shares, provided:
(1)the financial intermediary in aggregate at the firm level, excluding custody assets, has total assets of at least $25 billion invested in Vanguard; and
(2)the financial intermediary in aggregate at the firm level, excluding custody assets, meets the investment minimum of Institutional Plus Shares for the Fund.
A home office model portfolio must meet the following criteria:
(1)the allocations and Funds used in the model portfolios on the platform are set and selected by the financial intermediary (i.e., the firm itself);
(2)the allocations and Funds used in the model portfolios on the platform are not subject to change by individual financial advisors; and
(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.
•Accumulation Period - Accounts funded through regular contributions (e.g., employer sponsored participant contribution plans), whose assets are expected to quickly achieve eligibility levels, may qualify for Institutional Plus Shares upon account creation, rather than undergoing the conversion process shortly after account set-up if VGI management determines that the account will become eligible for Institutional Plus Shares within a limited period of time (generally 90 days). The accumulation period eligibility is subject to the discretion of VGI management.
•Asset Allocation Models - Clients with defined asset allocation models whose assets meet eligibility requirements may qualify for Institutional Plus Shares if such models comply with policies and procedures that have been approved by VGI management.
Institutional Select Shares - Eligibility Requirements
Institutional Select Shares generally require a minimum initial investment of $3,000,000,000. The minimum amount required to maintain eligibility for Institutional Select Shares will generally be lower than the minimum initial investment amount and may be further adjusted by an amount determined in VGI’s sole discretion to account for market depreciation. Each Fund and VGI also reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors. Institutional Select Share class eligibility also is subject to the following special rules:
•Institutional clients. An institutional client may hold Institutional Select Shares if the total amount aggregated among all accounts held by such client (including accounts held through financial intermediaries) and invested in the Fund is at least $3 billion (or such higher or lower minimum required by the individual Fund). Such an institutional client must disclose to VGI on behalf of its accounts the following: (1) the client acts as a common-decision maker for each account; and (2) the total balance in each account in the Fund.
•Financial intermediary clients. Financial intermediaries generally may hold Institutional Select Shares for the benefit of their underlying clients provided that:
(1)each underlying investor individually meets the investment minimum amount described above; and
(2)the financial intermediary agrees to monitor ongoing compliance of the underlying
investor accounts with the investment minimum amount; or
(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.
•Accumulation Period - Accounts funded through regular contributions (e.g., employer sponsored participant contribution plans), whose assets are expected to quickly achieve eligibility levels, may qualify for Institutional Select Shares upon account creation, rather than undergoing the conversion process shortly after account set-up, if VGI management determines that the account will become eligible for Institutional Select Shares within a limited period of time (generally 90 days). The accumulation period eligibility is subject to the discretion of VGI management.
•Investment by VGI collective investment trusts with a similar mandate. A VGI collective investment trust exempt from regulation under the Investment Company Act and that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in an underlying Fund with an index-based mandate may hold Institutional Select Shares of an underlying Fund with a similar index-based mandate whether or not its investment meets the minimum investment threshold specified above.
ETF Shares – Eligibility Requirements
The eligibility requirements for ETF Shares will be set forth in the Fund’s registration statement. To be eligible to purchase ETF Shares directly from a Fund, an investor must be (or must purchase through) an Authorized Participant, as defined in Paragraph III.F of the Multiple Class Plan. Investors purchasing ETF Shares from a Fund must purchase a minimum number of shares, known as a Creation Unit. The number of ETF Shares in a Creation Unit may vary from Fund to Fund. The value of a Fund’s Creation Unit will vary with the net asset value of the Fund’s ETF Shares but is expected to be several million dollars. An eligible investor generally must purchase a Creation Unit by depositing a prescribed basket consisting predominantly of securities with the Fund.
Transition Shares – Eligibility Requirements
Transition Shares will be offered only to Funds that operate as a Fund-of-Funds and only by an underlying Fund (i) that is receiving assets in kind from one or more Funds and (ii) that will “transition” those in-kind assets by selling some or all of them and using the proceeds to purchase different assets. There is no minimum investment amount for Transition Shares.
Original Board Approval: July 21, 2000
Last Approved by Board: November 2023